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as one you were interested in。'
There was； at any rate； real sadness in Manston's tone now； and the
rector paused to weigh his words ere he replied。
'I have not heard directly from her；' he said gently。 'But her
brother has communicated with some people in the parish'
'The Springroves； I suppose；' said Manston gloomily。
'Yes； and they tell me that she is very ill； and I am sorry to say；
likely to be for some days。'
'Surely； surely； I must go and see her！' Manston cried。
'I would advise you not to go；' said Raunham。 'But do this instead…
…be as quick as you can in making a movement towards ascertaining
the truth as regards the existence of your wife。 You see； Mr。
Manston； an out…step place like this is not like a city； and there
is nobody to busy himself for the good of the community； whilst poor
Cytherea and her brother are socially too dependent to be able to
make much stir in the matter； which is a greater reason still why
you should be disinterestedly prompt。'
The steward murmured an assent。 Still there was the same
indecision！not the indecision of weaknessthe indecision of
conscious perplexity。
On Manston's return from this interview at the rectory； he passed
the door of the Rising Sun Inn。 Finding he had no light for his
cigar； and it being three…quarters of a mile to his residence in the
park； he entered the tavern to get one。 Nobody was in the outer
portion of the front room where Manston stood； but a space round the
fire was screened off from the remainder； and inside the high oak
settle； forming a part of the screen； he heard voices conversing。
The speakers had not noticed his footsteps； and continued their
discourse。
One of the two he recognized as a well…known night…poacher； the man
who had met him with tidings of his wife's death on the evening of
the conflagration。 The
other seemed to be a stranger following the same mode of life。 The
conversation was carried on in the emphatic and confidential tone of
men who are slightly intoxicated； its subject being an unaccountable
experience that one of them had had on the night of the fire。
What the steward heard was enough； and more than enough； to lead him
to forget or to renounce his motive in entering。 The effect upon
him was strange and strong。 His first object seemed to be to escape
from the house again without being seen or heard。
Having accomplished this； he went in at the park gate； and strode
off under the trees to the Old House。 There sitting down by the
fire； and burying himself in reflection； he allowed the minutes to
pass by unheeded。 First the candle burnt down in its socket and
stunk： he did not notice it。 Then the fire went out： he did not
see it。 His feet grew cold； still he thought on。
It may be remarked that a lady； a year and a quarter before this
time； had； under the same conditionsan unrestricted mental
absorptionshown nearly the same peculiarities as this man evinced
now。 The lady was Miss Aldclyffe。
It was half…past twelve when Manston moved； as if he had come to a
determination。
The first thing he did the next morning was to call at Knapwater
House； where he found that Miss Aldclyffe was not well enough to see
him。 She had been ailing from slight internal haemorrhage ever
since the confession of the porter Chinney。 Apparently not much
aggrieved at the denial； he shortly afterwards went to the railway…
station and took his departure for London； leaving a letter for Miss
Aldclyffe； stating the reason of his journey thitherto recover
traces of his missing wife。
During the remainder of the week paragraphs appeared in the local
and other newspapers； drawing attention to the facts of this
singular case。 The writers； with scarcely an exception； dwelt
forcibly upon a feature which had at first escaped the observation
of the villagers； including Mr。 Raunhamthat if the announcement of
the man Chinney were true； it seemed extremely probable that Mrs。
Manston left her watch and keys behind on purpose to blind people as
to her escape； and that therefore she would not now let herself be
discovered； unless a strong pressure were put upon her。 The writers
added that the police were on the track of the porter； who very
possibly had absconded in the fear that his reticence was criminal；
and that Mr。 Manston； the husband； was； with praiseworthy energy；
making every effort to clear the whole matter up。
2。 FROM THE EIGHTEENTH TO THE END OF JANUARY
Five days from the time of his departure； Manston returned from
London and Liverpool； looking very fatigued and thoughtful。 He
explained to the rector and other of his acquaintance that all the
inquiries he had made at his wife's old lodgings and his own had
been totally barren of results。
But he seemed inclined to push the affair to a clear conclusion now
that he had commenced。 After the lapse of another day or two he
proceeded to fulfil his promise to the rector； and advertised for
the missing woman in three of the London papers。 The advertisement
was a carefully considered and even attractive effusion； calculated
to win the heart； or at least the understanding； of any woman who
had a spark of her own nature left in her。
There was no answer。
Three days later he repeated the experiment； with the same result as
before。
'I cannot try any further；' said Manston speciously to the rector；
his sole auditor throughout the proceedings。 'Mr。 Raunham； I'll
tell you the truth plainly： I don't love her； I do love Cytherea；
and the whole of this business of searching for the other woman goes
altogether against me。 I hope to God I shall never see her again。'
'But you will do your duty at least？' said Mr。 Raunham。
'I have done it；' said Manston。 'If ever a man on the face of this
earth has done his duty towards an absent wife； I have towards her
living or deadat least；' he added； correcting himself； 'since I
have lived at Knapwater。 I neglected her before that timeI own
that； as I have owned it before。'
'I should； if I were you； adopt other means to get tidings of her if
advertising fails； in spite of my feelings；' said the rector
emphatically。 'But at any rate； try advertising once more。 There's
a satisfaction in having made any attempt three several times。'
When Manston had left the study； the rector stood looking at the
fire for a considerable length of time； lost in profound reflection。
He went to his private diary； and after many pauses； which he varied
only by dipping his pen； letting it dry； wiping it on his sleeve；
and then dipping it again； he took the following note of events：
'January 25。Mr。 Manston has just seen me for the third time on the
subject of his lost wife。 There have been these peculiarities
attending the three interviews：
'The first。 My visitor； whilst expressing by words his great
anxiety to do everything for her recovery； showed plainly by his
bearing that he was convinced he should never see her again。
'The second。 He had left off feigning anxiety to do rightly by his
first wife； and honestly asked after Cytherea's welfare。
'The third （and most remarkable）。 He seemed to have lost all
consistency。 Whilst expressing his love for Cytherea （which
certainly is strong） and evincing the usual indifference to the
first Mrs。 Manston's fate； he was unable to conceal the intensity of
his eagerness for me to advise him to ADVERTISE AGAIN for her。'
A week after the second； the third advertisement was inserted。 A
paragraph was attached； which stated that this would be the last
time the announcement would appear。
3。 THE FIRST OF FEBRUARY
At this； the eleventh hour； the postman brought a letter for
Manston； directed in a woman's hand。
A bachelor friend of the steward's； Mr。 Dickson by name； who was
somewhat of a chattererplenus rimarumand who boasted of an
endless string of acquaintances； had come over from Casterbridge the
preceding day by invitationan invitation which had been a pleasant
surprise to Dickson himself； insomuch that Manston； as a rule； voted
him a bore almost to his face。 He had stayed over the night； and
was sitting at breakfast with his host when the important missive
arrived。
Manston did not attempt to conceal the subject of the letter； or the
name of the writer。 First glancing the pages through； he read aloud
as follows：
'〃MY HUSBAND；I implore your forgiveness。
'〃During the last thirteen months I have repeated to myself a
hundred times that you should never discover what I voluntarily tell
you now； namely； that I am alive and in perfect health。
'〃I have seen all your advertisements。 Nothing but your persistence
has won me round。 Surely； I thought； he MUST love me still。 Why
else should he try to win back a woman who； faithful unto death as
she will be； can； in a social sense； aid him towards acquiring
nothing？rather the reverse； indeed。
'〃You yourself state my own mindthat the only grounds upon which
we can meet and live together； with a reasonable hope of happiness；
must be a mutual consent to bury in oblivion all past differences。
I heartily and willingly forget everythingand forgive everything。
You will do the same； as your actions show。
'〃There wil